There are many classes and types of bikes in the cycling world. Some of them are intended for serious professional skiing, while others are for leisurely walks in parks and country roads. City bikes, mountain, middle class and all types of road bikes are in great demand. So that you can make the right choice when you come to the store, let's look at the features of each type and the main advantages of the first option.
Background
City bikes appeared one of the first. Their main difference from other types of bikes is that they have no specific purpose. They are positioned by the manufacturer as walking and sharpened specifically for this style of riding, while designed for inexperienced users or children. The maximum that such bicycles are suitable for is trips around the city with family, a picnic in the park, work.
Often they are difficult, with not the most responsive controls, many unnecessary and unnecessary nodes, it is difficult to travel long distances and overcome obstacles. On older models of the 90s and early 2000s, many city bicycles were equipped with just one gear. Later they began to be hung with conventional multi-speed transmissions or equipped with planetary systems, which added value to them, but still left behind any sports items.
In general, reviews of city bikes are positive. Family and too fashionable people like this type of transport. Everyone who has bought such bikes is completely satisfied that he quickly rolls down the hill and has several gears for lifting. Therefore, relying too much on the reviews when buying is not worth it.
In fact, not only road bikes are suitable for the role of walking bikes, but also some branches from other more significant species, which we will consider below.
What should a bike be like?
The ideal formula for the best city bike: your riding style + budget + your knowledge of mechanics. The concept of an inexpensive walking bike is as follows:
- Wheels 28 ".
- Having more than 20 speeds or a planetary hub.
- Light weight.
- Curved frame shape for women.
- V-Break brakes.
- Locking fork.
- Lack of a generator on the front wheel. Due to the availability of rechargeable batteries, this is the most rudimentary thing in modern bicycles.
- Comfortable fit.
- The presence of the trunk, reflectors and possibly mud flaps.
Of course, this is a non-specific set of criteria for choosing a city bike, since for you some points may not be important or vice versa.
As a rule, promoted brands do not usually produce “civilian” bicycles. Branches from a large brand are doing this. For example, LeGrand bicycles are owned by Kross and B'tween by Decathlon. This solution allows you not to mix lineups and better develop certain lines.
Folding bikes
Folding city bicycles are ideal representatives of the category of walking bikes. For example, such as Stels Pilot, F-Bike or Tern.
According to reviews, they have not so many advantages in comparison with the classic options:
- Compactness.
- Suitable for women and men.
- A relatively safe type of bike, because it is not even able to accelerate quickly.
With active use, problems begin with the folding mechanism, and huge loops of cables are unlikely to please you. But, despite this, it is still in demand among some categories of the population.
Children's and teenage tales
Choosing the first bike for your child / teenager is easy. Basically, for this, they produce some combination of mountain and tourist bikes, which do not always have clear and useful geometry and are chosen mainly according to the wishes of the child himself.
Children’s bicycles are usually made of steel, but aluminum models are found. It all depends on the type and size of the frame. As a rule, they are not equipped with spare parts above the average level. The maximum that can be found is a Shimano Alivio canopy or Chinese sports name spare parts. However, this is correct, since it will be difficult for a child to appreciate the benefits of Shadow + or Cage Lock technology. And if he is interested in this topic, then it probably makes sense to assemble the bike yourself on some interesting frame like Specialized p2 or Holy.
Highway
Road bikes are not related to city bikes, but rather to road bikes, but this does not prevent them from being quite popular with both advanced riders and ordinary users. In the reviews, the main advantages of this type include:
- light weight;
- compactness;
- large gear set;
- high speed.
Due to the design of the frame, it is easy to disperse it, you can take it with you to the elevator and at least every day remove the front wheel, if it is on an eccentric, moreover, dirt does not accumulate in the tires. They are ideal for those who love speed and physical activity, but, unfortunately, girls who love leisurely walks in a light sundress will not like it.
But there are drawbacks to the road, if you can call them that:
- high price;
- uncomfortable placement of a cyclist in the saddle;
- difficult management.
The cost of a good road bike is quite high, and maintenance requires sacrifice at the beginning and end of each season, so carefully consider buying such a bike and weigh all the advantages and disadvantages well.
Hardtail
Of course, serious mountain bikes are not urban bikes, but this is not entirely true for the hardtail subclass. Such bikes have a design very similar to standard tourist specimens, and among them there are also ladies, teenage models and classic frames with straight triangles.
Hardtail, unlike two-suspension, can be comfortably used not only in extreme conditions, but also on ordinary roads. And in cities where there are not enough bike paths, this type of transport can be considered one of the best, since paving stones, curbs, road pits and unpaved areas will be overcome with incredible ease. Hardtail can be equipped with a trunk or a set of travel bags, add beacons and a child seat.
The assortment of hardtail in any city is simply huge, therefore it is difficult to advise any particular model. They are usually chosen as the first bike, and they do it not quite consciously, but only relying on the words of the consultant in the store. Unfortunately, a detailed description of choosing a hardtail is a topic for a separate article, so we will not consider this issue. Remember only that in this case it is better to give preference to more or less well-known brands.
Hybrids
In different areas of the production of something, sooner or later hybrids appear. Often they do not represent anything good just for the reason that one thing cannot fulfill the functions of a dozen different narrowly targeted devices. In the case of bicycles, everything is the same.
Factory hybrids are always worse than a mediocre hardtail or a normal road bike. They are much heavier than highways, often do not have a trunk in picking, and the control, which is sharpened both under asphalt and under the ground, in practice is not so universal. Hybrids are mostly urban bicycles for adults. Among them there are no models with 24 ”wheels or 15” frames.
Should I buy hybrids?
There is no point in acquiring a hybrid as a super-universal vehicle. Such bikes are recommended for purchase unless those who need transport to get to work on mixed surfaces. But for such purposes, cyclo-cross or hardtail can come down. If you still decide to buy a hybrid, pay attention to the following models:
- Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc, 2016-2018 model year. A great hybrid, equally suitable for women and men. The average body kit from Shimano, the Specialized frame will not fail in difficult conditions, and the price is not so high, unlike the Specialized sports line.
- Author Horizon 28. " Author bikes are not unusual in themselves. Their frames have the most standard design, but there is no particular choice of components. However, like the lineup. But Horizon is perfect for the role of a classic hybrid: inexpensive, convenient, unpretentious to conditions and inexpensive to repair.
- You can also pay attention to the Lapierre Cross line.
The difference between male and female models
Women's city bicycles in work do not differ from men’s, but at the same time they have a different frame design. Typically, dams are produced either without the upper pipe of the front triangle at all, or press it to the bottom as much as possible. This allows you to use the bike in any clothes. Although this solution has already lost its practical value, it is still in demand on recreational city bikes.
From a technical point of view, such a frame design has less rigidity and is not able to withstand heavy loads. In addition, it is more prone to deformation.
Men's city bikes often have a horizontal top tube, and the dimensions of the frames themselves are slightly larger. Also can be completed with a certain type of saddles. Otherwise, they are no different. However, there are unisex models among some city bicycles - Stels Navigator 320, for example.
Is it worth it to overpay for famous brands?
Promoted brands, in addition to the production of quality bicycles, significantly increase the price per name. If you buy your first bike and have absolutely no experience in choosing bicycles, and the budget is very limited, then do not chase brand glands.
One or two seasons can easily skate any Chinese instance. Of course, you are unlikely to save this way, because soon it will either fall into pieces, or you will realize that you are not specifically comfortable with it and rush to buy a new, better bike. Although, if you have a few extra dollars, it is better to give preference to GT than, say, B'Tween or Winner.